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Meat, Maghreb and Middle East

Nwasser with chicken

Nwasser with chicken is an Algerian dish of small steamed pasta squares topped with a tomato sauce made with chicken and chickpeas, flavored with cinnamon and paprika. This recipe serves 4, takes 1 hour 5 minutes, rates as moderate difficulty, and costs about €2.60 per person. The key to success is cutting the pasta squares evenly and keeping the sauce generous enough to soak into them.

Tonight, nwasser, those little steamed pasta squares drizzled with a red chicken and chickpea sauce, a soft and festive Algerian dish.

Nwasser with chicken
Total time
1 h 05
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€2.60
Calories per person
650 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter

Nwasser are the small steamed pasta squares found on Algerian tables for special occasions. Their texture is soft, somewhat like fine couscous, and they soak up the tomato sauce without falling apart if cut evenly. Cinnamon and paprika give this chicken and chickpea sauce a warm, slightly sweet and spiced aroma that sets it apart from ordinary tomato dishes.

This is a Sunday or extended family dish, the kind you make when you have a bit of time on your hands. Simmering the chicken and steaming the pasta squares call for attention in stages rather than complicated technique. It works well for a dinner with guests, served in one large dish at the center of the table.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Chicken thighs 6

Dairy

  • Fresh lasagna sheets 300 g
  • Butter 30 g

Pantry

  • Cooked chickpeasoften in the pantry 200 g
  • Tomato pasteoften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Cinnamonoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Paprikaoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 2
  • Garlic 2 cloves

Allergens Gluten, Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Brown the chicken thighs with the oil, onion, and garlic, then add the tomato paste, cinnamon, paprika, salt, and pepper. 12 min

    The spices need to warm up in the oil to release their aroma.

  2. Cover with water, add the chickpeas, and let it simmer covered. 35 min

    Keep the sauce generous, the pasta squares will soak it up.

  3. Cut the pasta sheets into 3 cm squares.

    Dust them lightly with flour so they don't stick together.

  4. Steam the squares in a couscoussier or a colander, with a small knob of butter. 15 min

    Fluff them with a fork halfway through cooking.

  5. Arrange the squares on a plate, ladle sauce over them, top with the chicken, and serve.

    Add the sauce in several batches so the squares soak it up without falling apart.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick soft fresh lasagna sheets, they cut more cleanly and hold up better under steam than dried pasta.
  • Make the sauce quite liquid before adding the squares, it needs to coat them well so the dish doesn't dry out as it cools.
  • If you don't have a couscoussier, a metal colander set over a pot of simmering water works just as well, cover it with a clean cloth to trap the steam.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken thighs for lamb pieces, the simmering time will be a bit longer but the sauce gains in depth.
  • For a vegetarian version, skip the chicken and double the chickpeas, the sauce stays just as flavorful.
  • To save time, use lasagna sheets already cut into squares or store-bought semolina gnocchi instead of homemade squares.

What to serve it with

  • A fresh tomato and cucumber salad
  • A glass of buttermilk or lben
  • Olives as a starter

Storage

Nwasser keep for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator in a closed container, sauce and squares together. They don't freeze well since the steamed pasta tends to fall apart when thawed. Reheat gently in a pot or microwave, adding a little water if the sauce has thickened.

Questions about this dish

Can you use dried lasagna sheets instead of fresh ones?

Yes, but you should moisten them slightly before cutting and steaming them, otherwise they stay too firm. Fresh pasta gives a softer result, closer to the traditional texture.

Can you make the chicken sauce ahead of time?

Yes, the sauce can be made the day before and gently reheated before serving, it only gets more flavorful. Steam the pasta squares at the last minute so they stay tender.

What role does cinnamon play in this recipe?

Cinnamon adds a warm, slightly sweet note that balances the tomato's acidity, typical of North African celebration dishes. One teaspoon is enough, it shouldn't overpower the other spices.

How do you keep the pasta squares from sticking together while steaming?

Dust them lightly with flour before placing them in the steamer and fluff them with a fork halfway through cooking. Avoid stacking them too thickly so steam can circulate properly.

How long does it take to make a plate of nwasser with chicken?

Count 1 h 05 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in a plate of nwasser with chicken?

About 650 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a plate of nwasser with chicken cost?

About €2.60 per serving, or €10.40 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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